Capseals for container closures



Aug. 28, 1956 R. PARISH, JR 2,750,671

CAPSEALS FOR CONTAINER CLOSURES Filed March 31, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

RICHARD L. PAR/SH, L/Q.

Aug. 28, 1956 R. PARISH, JR 2,760,671

CAPSEALS FOR CONTAINER CLOSURES Filed March 31, 195:5 2 Sheeis-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. Q1 CHA RD L. PA 1511, J15.

A 7'7'ORNEX United rates Patent CAPSEALS son coNTAINEn CLOSURES Richard L. Parish, .lr., North Salem, N. Y., assignor to American Flange & Manufacturing Co. 1:12., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application March 31, 1953, Serial No. 345,820

2 Claims. (Cl. 220--27) This invention relates to capseals for container closures and particularly to such capseals as are customarily used for the sean'ng of closures employed on barrels and drums.

In the art of capsealing barrels and drums it is desirable to employ capseals which are not only tamper-proof, i. e. cannot removed without being sufficient destroyed to make that removal obvious, as well as being leakproof. A high degree of perfection has heretofore been achieved in this art by means of capseals which are internally scored and have effective gaskets secured therein. To achieve this perfection economically, however, it was necessary, employing the available gasket materials, to have the gaskets preformed prior to application to the capseals and to interrupt the scores at the position where the scores would otherwise cross in back of or underneaLh the gaskets. Otherwise, particularly where capseals were used without plugs as the sole closures for openings, leakage could take place along the scores in back of the gasket.

By interrupting the scores, where the gasket crossed them, this likelihood of leakage was precluded but did 9 introduce difficulties into the removal of the seals. Such seals would normally be removed by puncturing the tops thereof and tearing along the score lines. Considering that these capseals are made of relatively strong and thick material as against the sort of light weight material used on bottle caps, it is obvious that there would be occasions when one would find it difficult, in tearing the metal, to jump from the scored part of the top of the capseal across the unscored gasket Zone thereof, so that the tearing could be continued down the skirt. Alternatively it was proposed to provide tearing tabs extending from the free edge of the skirt so that the tearing could be commenced from there rather than making it necessary to puncture the top and tear by grasping the material between the score lines. This did no better while the score was interrupted at the position beneath the gasket.

Various ideas were advanced for eliminating this problem but none of them can become successful until the advent of the instant invention. The instant invention not only facilitates the removal of capseals but also does so in a manner which, at the same time, precludes any likelihood of leakage due to the score line. It enables the score lines to be continuous and enables a variety of score patterns to be employed whichv were heretofor unusable. It nevertheless does this in a manner which is simple and economical and, in addition, assures that the gasket will stay in place in the capseal and will not fall out in shipment, as is likely to happen with prior art capseals having pre-fonned gaskets.

The capseals of the invention are formed with continuous score lines and those score lines, and the cap so so red, are provided with internal gaskets by flowing the gasket material into the caps. This is done with the gasket material in sufliciently fluid state to enable it to flow into and till the score lines where the gasket crosses them. Thus though continuous score lines are used, leakage in back of the gaskets is precluded, since the "ice score lines are filled up at that position. The filling is merely by means of gasket material so, while leakage is prevented, the ease of removal provided by continuous scores is in no way interfered with.

It is accordingly a principal object of this invention to facilitate the removal of applied capseals from container closures.

Another object is to facilitate that removal while, at the same time, precluding the likelihood of leakage While those capseals remain applied.

Another object is to increase the number and types of possible scorings which may be applied to capseals for removal purposes.

Another object is to provide for the gasketing of capseals over wider range than was heretofor thought possible.

A more detailed object is to enable gasketed capseals to be continuously scored without allowing leakage behind the gaskets thereof.

Further and more detailed objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, proceeds.

In that drawing:

Pig. 1 is a top plan view of the preferred form of capseal in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an elevation thereof looking at Fig. 1 from the right hand side.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken on lines 4-4 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section taken on lines 6-6 of Fig. l and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical section of a closure complete with closure plug, showing the capseal of Fig. 1 applied thereto.

Pig. 8 is a view, similar to Fig. 5, of a capseal formed with a gasket continuous all over the inner surface thereof.

Fig. 9 is a view, similar to Fig. l, of a modified form of capseal omitting the ears or tabs.

Fig. 10 is a vertical section taken on lines Ill-10 of Fig. 9 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on lines 11-1l of Fig. 9 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of a capseal similar to that of Fig. l but employing a modified form of scoring.

Fig. 13 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 12 of a capseal embodying a further modification of scoring.

Fig. 15 is a bottom plan view of the capseal of Fig. 14-.

Fig. 16 is a top plan view of a capseal employing a further scoring modification; and

Fig. 17 is a bottom plan view thereof.

The main parts of the preferred form of capseals, shown in Figs. 1 through 6, are the disc-like top generally indicated at 1 and the downwardly extending surrounding skirt generally indicated at 2. The top 1, as here shown, has a center portion 3 surrounded by a depressed portion 4. In the reverse, this may be considered as the center portion 3 being raised to encompass the head 5 of a plug 6 as seen by reference to Fig. 7. The invention is not, however, limited by this relationship of raised and depressed portions since the relationship here is solely for the purpose of encompassing the particular plug 6 and effecting a gasketing action against the bead 7 of the flange Sinto which the plug 6 is threaded. Other forms of plugs might well require different cap top formations to encompass them. Thus the various formations that the top could take could include a top that is a completely flat disc, without any depression, a top whose center section 3 was raised considerably more than that shown in order to encompass a plug with a raised head, or head with raised formations thereon or the reverse where the center section is depressed. It is to be understood then that the relationship here shown and described is merely illustrative and that a well known form of plug and flange relationship have been selected to assist in that illustration.

The skirt generally indicated at 2 is cylindrical in formation, as indicated at 9. It extends latterly with respect to the head 1, departing from the depressed portion 4 thereof in a radius 10. The cylindrical portion 9, as best illustrated in Fig. 7, should preferably be of sufficient length that, when the capseal is crimped in place over the container wall opening, the bottom edge 11 of the skirt will either engage, or come so close to engagement, with the upper surface of the container wall material 12, at the position 13, as to preclude the insertion therebeneath of a tool capable of prying the capseal loose without destroying it.

The capseal here shown is provided with tabs 14 and 15 which are formed as a continuation of the skirt 2 and extend outwardly from the edge 11 thereof. Preferably there is a pair of these tabs 14 and 15, one at each end of a diameter of the cap, but one or the other may be omitted if desired. Furthermore one of the tabs is preferably perforated, as shown at 16, for the attachment of a suitable tag or label.

It is desired that capseals, in accordance with the invention, will give protection against unauthorized removal and, consequently, against pilferage or contamination of the contents of the container. It is also desired that they provide a liquid-tight seal against leakage of the contents of the container, as well as against breathing or sucking in of moisture vapor or other impurities from the outside should the plug gasket 17 fail in any way or should the capseal be employed without the plug. It is nevertheless desired that such capseals be readily removable in authorized manner. This authorized removal should be capable of being performed easily and quickly without too much effort on the part of the workman and without the possibility of the workman cutting or otherwise injuring himself.

Authorized removal is provided for in accordance with the invention by a pair of continuous parallel scores extending into the material of the capseal for a substantial distance from the inner surface thereof. These scores commence at the edge 11 of the skirt 9 as best shown at 18 and 19 in Fig. 6, with that commencement being in alignment with the departure of the sides of the tab 15 from the edge 11. From there the scores extend preferably in parallel relationship up the skirt at 20 and 21, run continuously around the radius 10, across the depression 4, up under the top 3 and across that top in parallel portions 22 and 23 to the opposite side of the skirt where they continue on downwardly to terminate at the free edge 11 in alignment with the sides of the tab 14.

Preferably these scores are actual die cuts made in the material rather than being mere distortions of the material. This preference is dictated by several factors. One is that the material is of such thickness that mere ribbing or embossing of the capseal material would not effect a weakening of it to an extent to enable the capseal to be readily destroyed when desired. Furthermore such ribbing would project upwardly from the outer surface of the capseal and would thus interrupt or interfere with the showing of the customers trade mark with which the tops of these capseals are usually lithographed. This is important, for the fillers of drums who capseal them want capseals carrying their trade mark or other identification, want that identification to stand out clearly and to make as good a showing as possible. When the scoring is. by means of an actual die cut into the material, such drawbacks are eliminated. In other words the capseal, while making a tight closure prior to destruction, is fully elfective for the purpose intended but, at the same time, may be readily destroyed by grasping one of the ears and pulling it up the skirt and across the top. Furthermore such die cutting leaves the top surface substantially smooth and uninterrupted. The cutting, as best shown at 20 and 21 in Fig. 4, and at 22 and 23 in Fig. 6, is in the form of a sharp deep I. The forming of such a cut has balked the prior art efforts to provide economical gasketing for the prevention of leakage.

ln the gasketing of prior art capseals against leakage, preformed gaskets were used which were seated in place in the capseals and secured there by means of a suitable adhesive. The materials employed, to be effective for gasketing purposes, had to be resilient. Such materials as could be economically provided were relatively incapable of flowing out of their normal shape into small spaces and staying there. Thus if a score, or small depression, in the material passed by in back of the gasket, there was no assurance that the gasket material would be forced into such score or depression to sufficient extent to close it olf against leakage or breathing in of moisture. Hence the only really safe course was to interrupt the scores at the position where the gasket would lie against the inner surface of the capseal. This interruption immediately rendered the capseals difficult to remove and practically precluded the use of tabs for removal, since the skirt portion, carrying the tab, would be likely to tear off at the top of the skirt, whereas tearing across the disc-like top of the cap was necessary to enable the capseals to be removed effectively. Furthermore, such gaskets being preformed rather necessarily, from the practical and economic standpoint, had to be of rectangular shape in cross-section, to facilitate such forming. Thus they could not be contoured on their outer faces to fit any particular opposed surface.

All of these drawbacks have been eliminated by the gasketing of capseals in accordance with the instant invention and additional improvements have been introduced into the art thereby. Here, as already pointed out, the scoring of the capseal is continuous from one free edge of the skirt up over the top of the cap and down to the opposite free edge. Thus, if the scoring were not filled at the positions where the gasket crossed it, the likelihood of leakage would be present. The capseal of the invention is scored in the flat with continuous scores. Then it is formed into the cup-shape. Next it is seated on a suitable holder and spun at a substantial rate of speed while gasketing material, in fluid form, is introduced into it around the border of the top beneath the depression 4. The gasketing material is such as to be capable of flowing freely into desired position while in the fluid form but which material, after a quick curing, hardens up into a resilient, fully effective gasket. Such a gasketis shown at 24 in Figs. 2, 4, 5 and 6. From that showing it is clear that the gasket lies across the open scores. It is further seen, from the enlarged showing in Fig. 4, that V shaped sections of the gasket material have flown into and fill the score sections 20 and 21 at 25 and 26. Nevertheless there is no resulting deformation on the outer surface 27 of the gasket but, rather, that follows in a continuous smooth curve.

Not only does the gasket material flow into the portions of the score 20 and 21, which run up the skirt 9, but, also, as seen in Fig. 5, it follows around the radius 10 and under the depression 4 and fills the score wherever it overlies it. This takes place even though, as best seen in Fig. 5, the exterior surface of the gasket adopts a rather smooth curve formation commencing at a thin edge at 28, thickening as it proceeds upwardly and terminating in another thin edge at 29.

The outer contour of the gasket just referred to is of importance from the standpoint of the manner in which the finished gasket flows when the capseal is secured in place on a closure. This feature is illustrated in Fig. 7

where the capseal gasket 24 starts by engaging with the rim of the plug head 5, extends between the depression 4 of the capseal and the top of the flange bead 7 and follows around that bead, between it and the radius 10, and part way down the skirt, terminating adjacent the lower end of the bead. Thus, regardless of possible surface irregularities of the flange head, the gasket follows the surface of that bead around to suflicient extent, and is held against it by the cap in such a manner, that surface irregularities are filled in and effective gasketing is assured. The gasket is trapped and can flow only around this curve since its inner end comes against the plug head and its outer or bottom end is trapped between the bead and the cap skirt where the cap skirt turns in to underlie the bead.

A suitable gasketing material, capable of being applied as above described and operable to flow when cured as described, is Darex compound presently marketed by Dewey and Almy Chemical Company. The invention is not so limited, however, but, rather, it embraces the various materials suitable for this purpose. Generally speaking the material should be of a nature that, when initially heated, it will be substantially fluid but, when cooled from such fluid state, it will turn into a rubberlike jell and remain permanently that way.

As an alternative to the Fig. 1 system of removing the capseals by grasping a tab and tearing up the skirt, an additional transverse score is provided at 30, preferably in the center of the cap top. This score is formed into the material of the cap thereof and stops just short of the parallel scores 22 and 23. The seal may be destroyed and removed, through the use of this score, by merely driving a screwdriver through the score 30, prying up the material of the seal at one side of the break and tearing along the parallel scores by using pliers or other suitable gripping instrument.

An alternative form of gasketing for the form of continuously scored capseal, of Figs. 1 and 2, is shown in fragmentary section in Fig. 8. Here the gasketing material 31 not only lies part way up the skirt 9, as shown at 32, around the radius 10, as shown at 33, and across the depressed part 4 but, also, continues up the incline, as at 33, to lie underneath the raised top portion 3 and all the way across such portion. Thus the gasketing material forms a complete covering over the inner surface of the capseal and fills the scores throughout the whole of their extent from the outer end of the head 7, inward over the whole of the cap surface.

Heretofore, even with scores interrupted at the normal gasket seat it has been difficult to protect the contents of the container, particularly where no plugs were used, I

from getting in contact with the raw metal in the scores. Discs of various materials were used, sometimes made up of layers of different materials, but little success was achieved in finding a commercial, economical arrangement. By adopting the Fig. 8 form, however, the problem is completely solved, all in one application of gasketing material.

In gasketing the cap of the Fig. 8 form, the fluid material is applied to the cap in the proper position while the cap is spinning. This causes a layer of adequate thickness to be formed over all of the surface of the cap, including the filling of the scoring. In addition the centrifugal force involved causes the gasketing material to build up to the form of a full gasket at 32, substantially the same as the gasket 24 of the previous form. Thus the contents of the container are protected from coming in contact withthe metal of the cap and particularly from contacting that metal which might otherwise be in the raw unfinished state, having been scored. The gasket material here, due to its nature and manner of application, adheres readily to the inner surface of the cap throughout the same as does the gasket 24.

In the modification shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11 the construction is the same as that shown in Figs. 1 through 6, except that the tabs 14 and 15 have been omitted.

6 The same reference characters have been accordingly used. The starting positions 18 and 19 of the score portions 20 and 21 are properly spaced on the free edge 11 positions rather than being on either side of a tab, as in the previous figures. Again the continuous scores are filled by the extending portions of gasket 24, where that gasket overlies them. The scores continue across the top in scored portions 22 and 23 and then run down the opposite side. Removal of this capseal must, however, be achieved by fracturing the top of the cap along the cross-score by then grasping the material on one side of the fracture and tearing along the lines 22 and 23.

A capseal with another form of highly effective scoring, which, however, could not heretofore be employed, is shown in Figs. 12 and 13. Like the capseal of Figs. 1 and 2 this cap has a disk-like top 31 recessed downward at 32, with a lateral extending skirt 33 around its periphery and with tabs 34 and 35 extending outwardly from the edge thereof. Parallel scores .are formed in the skirt commencing in alignment with each side of the tabs as indicated at 36 and 37. These scores extend up the skirt and turn inwardly under the recessed portion where they communicate with scores 38 and 39. The score 39 extends continuously across the top of the cap into engagement with the side score at the opposite side of the opposed ear 34, while the scores 38 extend in parallel relationship for a substantial distance across the top but terminate at ends 40 just before they come into engagement with the diagonal score 39. Again a gasket 41 is flowed into the cap around the periphery of the interior thereof, filling the scores 38 and 39 where it crosses them.

This form of scoring takes advantage of the natural inclination to tear the material along somewhat of a diagonal, thus makes the job of tearing a little easier for the workmen. Furthermore the cap is somewhat stronger since only one score line extends all the way across it. A further modification of scoring is illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15. Here the top 42 is depressed at 43 and. has a laterally extending skirt 44 projecting downwardly the same as the previous forms. Tabs 45 and 46 extend outward=ly from the bottom edge of the skirt 44 and score lines commence at either side of the tabs 45 and 46, as shown at 47 and 48, extending up the skirt and around. on top of the same. These scores may be parallel as they extend up the skirt but may also converge somewhat in that extent. From the top of the skirt, however, the continuing scores converge sharply as seen at 49 and 50, and end up in a single score portion 51. This latter extends across the center of the cap to the opposite pair of converging, or, in this instance, diverging scores. Again a flowed-in gasket 52 borders the interior of the cap and fills the diagonal scores 49 and 50 where it crosses them as well, of course, as filling the portions of the skirt scores 47 and 48 where it overlies them.

Normally the tearing of one tab to where the scores 50 and 49 converge into the line 51 should be sutficient to enable this cap to be lifted off. If not, however, a rap on the line 51 would cause it to fracture and the cap to pop off.

An extension of the idea of a single score line is illustrated at Figs. 16 and 17. Here the cap, like that of Fig. 9, is devoid of tabs, has a top 53 with a depressed portion 54 therearound and has a laterally extending skirt 55 extending downward from the portion 54. Here a single internal score runs up the inside of the skirt, at one end of a diameter, runs across the top and down the skirt at the opposite end of the diameter. A flowed in gasket 56 fills the portion of this scoring, extending across the top where the gasket overlies it and, also, fills the portion extending down the skirt on each end of the diameter where the gasket extends down alongside that skirt.

This capseal is highly effective when applied, and it may be removed with remarkable ease. A sharp rap on the score portion 57 running across the top of the cap, not only fractures that portion but is also likely to fracture one or both of the portions 58 running down the skirt. This results in the cap popping off Without any more needing to be ,done.

From the foregoing description of the structure it will be appreciated that substantial improvement is introduced into the art of capseals for container closures, particularly those used for the sealing of steel barrels and drums. It will be apparent, however, that though several embodiments of the invention have been shown and described the invention is not necessarily limited thereby but encompasses also such other. embodiments as might suggest themselves to one skilled in the art. It is accordingly to be understood that the foregoing description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, is to be construed in an illustrative and not a limiting sense.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and seek to obtain letters patent for is:

1. A oapseal for container closures comprising a disclike top with a laterally extending skirt therearound, a tearing ear forming part of said skirt and extending away from the free edge of the same, a pair of internal score lines formed into the material of said skirt and extending' continuously from said skirt across the position where said skirt and top are joined and part way across said top, said score lines commencing at the free edge of said skirt, one on either side of said ear, a gasket of resilient gasket material formed in situ in the peripheral 39 trough shaped channel formed by the juncture of said top and skirt and secured to the surface of said channel, said gasket crossing said score lines and having portions extending integrally therewith and outwardly from the outer surface of said gasket, said portions being formed for mating and filling engagement with said scores where said scores and gasket cross, said portions extending into said scores and filling the same.

2. A capseal for container closures comprising a disclike top with a laterally extending skirt therearound, a pair of tearing ears forming part of said skirt and extending outwardly from and away from the free edge of the same at diametrically opposed positions with respect to said top, a pair of parallel internal score lines formed into the material of said skirt and top and extending continuously from the edge of said skirt, across the position where said skirt and top are joined, across said top and down the opposed side of said skirt, said score lines commencing and terminating at the free edge of said skirt, one on either side of said ears, a gasket of resilient gasket material formed in situ in the peripheral trough shaped channel formed by the juncture of said top and skirt and secured to the surface of said channel, said gasket crossing said score lines and being formed with transversely extending raised portions mated to the opposed portions of said scores, said raised portions extending into said scores and filling the same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,151,702 Ilg Mar. 28, 1939 2,194,147 Mauser Mar. 19, 1940 2,481,111 Griswold Sept. 6, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 395,607 Great Britain July 20, 1933 804,605 France Aug. 3, 1936 455,944 Italy Mar. 18, 1950 

